Someone stole our Monkey Puzzle tree

[lisarjohn]

Someone stole our Monkey Puzzle tree last week and I am still so flabbergasted that I feel I have to post, lest anyone can shed light on what strange motivation there may have been for this crime. I suspect they're worth a fair few bob, although ours was only a few feet tall. But would it have been stolen to order? Someone went to the trouble of digging it out of the pot and carrying it round the corner, presumably to a vehicle (there was a trail of piles of earth at intervals, suggesting the b*ggers at least got spiked and had to keep putting the thing down) in an apparently premeditated act. I can't imagine that the sort of person who cares enough about their garden to particularly want a monkey puzzle tree is also the sort of person who would then thieve to get one ? is there a black market in plants? My three-year-old is distraught and will not stop talking about the naughty people who borrowed it without asking and how we might find them and ask for it back (it was a birthday present). If anyone sees a discarded, sorry-looking monkey puzzle tree hanging about Nunhead, Peckham or Dulwich, or one recently planted, having mysteriously appeared overnight, please do let me know.

[yeknomyeknom]

I have seen many plants in pots stolen from front gardens round here as I am out early in the morning. There's always a trail of soil to the road, so clearly a van driving up and down the streets.

[lisarjohn]

I suppose if they collect a lot of them it'd be a money spinner. Seemed so unreasonable as a one-off (of course it's unreasonable, it's theft, but you know what I mean, I hope)

[mancity68]

We had a little fir tree in a pot stolen and a money plant. It's quite upsetting when you nurture these things from little twigs and they get nicked. Feels too petty to report to police too.

[Countrlass22]

My neighbour had plants stolen in summer months,sorry see this happened.

Hard explain to child where tree gone,and a very prickly sharp tree to tend let alone remove.

So I'm sure they got cut a lot any blood stains anywhere for police evidence?

[lisarjohn]

Ha, if only! I can just see them taking the time to DNA test for a tree thief! I did think I'd get laughed at if I phoned the police. Maybe in less urban environs...

[PeckhamRose]

years ago on a walk around Peckham Rye Park we were told that the thieves who steal the plants are often found to be nice middle aged ladies from Dulwich who - when questioned - say they have the right as they are rate payers. And we should report it to the police. Quite right too! I do hope you get your plants back.

[daya day]

Hi Lisarjohn,

I found out from a friend that apparently these trees are becoming very popular and one can receive a fair price for it.

At least it was the tree they stole and not your car keys and your car.

This happened to my friend who lives in Mitcham, while she was asleep.

Anyway I hope your angel is feeling a little better and isn't too distraught.

X

[PeckhamRose]

Maybe we should put a chain around the one at the north west corner of Peckham Rye Park next to the nursery ex toilets. And attach the chain to a ground locking device as used by Motorcyclists that the council may have access to. Chain up the plants!

[intexasatthe moment]

Pots are hard to protect but I've heard of people using the chicken wire method to prevent theft of shrubs and trees

"Using chicken wire

Dig a hole for the root ball and then dig a larger, slightly shallower hole around the outside, so it looks like an upturned cowboy hat. Lay a sheet of ?chicken wire? inside the larger hole. Make two cuts across the centre of the chicken wire and fold up the wire to allow the root ball to pass through into the smaller hole that you have dug for the plant. Back fill the hole for the plant. Push the chicken wire back down on top of the root ball and use gardening wire to tie up the cut chicken wire, so only the stem of the plant is now coming through the hole in the wire. Now push the chicken wire firmly into the bottom of the larger diameter hole and over fill with the soil. Water thoroughly."

[Countrlass22]

Yes can see what saying,well hope they caught whomever taking such plants,trees.

I'm sure would fetch good price shameful lot.

[MissKing]

How awful!

[Bluelagoon]

We had an olive tree, and a not particularly large one, stolen from our doorstep a year or so back. It is definitely a bit odd, ours was also a gift.

[fazer71]

Yep

Anything of value MUST be secured with a heavy duty locking system ....

[Mands]

Someone stole our garden hose from the front garden last month!!! Nothing's safe nowadays lol

[Dog duck]

...cheeky monkey